October 22, 2008 — Quebec Health Minister Yves Bolduc is standing by an agreement to contract out surgeries to a private Town of Mount Royal clinic despite a damning report by the provincial ombudsman.

The report, made public yesterday, raised numerous questions about the accord between Sacre Coeur Hospital and the Rockland MD Surgical Centre.

Since the deal was signed in February, more than 300 patients have undergone a wide variety of day surgeries at the clinic.

But the ombudsman warned in her report that patients' best interests are not being served.

"The ombudsman is worried about the absence of specific reference to the rights of (patients),. . .